Things To Do in Louisiana This Weekend
Whether you are a culture seeker, food aficionado, outdoor adventurer or history lover, Louisiana is filled with opportunities for you to #FeedYourSoul.
Here's a roundup of fun Louisiana events and activities.
With nine state museums and 21 state parks and preserves, there is no shortage of things to do every day of the year in Louisiana.
Head to countless festivals. Listen to live music that will get in your bones and never leave. Enjoy world-class fishing, boating and paddling. Get up close with nature on biking and hiking trails. You'll find excellent camping and picnic areas, including well-equipped cabins and RV parks at a Louisiana state park.
Discover the history of Mardi Gras, see Louis Armstrong's cornet, relive historical moments in Louisiana sports history and so much more when you visit one of Louisiana's museums. There are countless opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture that makes Louisiana such a special place.
Find your Louisiana with these events happening around the state this weekend. Check out a full list of this weekend's events and plan your visit today!
Christmas Open House
November 30-December 2
Monroe
Sip on Coke and peanuts on your way to Christmas Open House at The Biedenharn, Monroe’s historic museum complex. Inside, you’ll find ribbon-wrapped Christmas trees and freshly polished holiday silver, sure, but you’ll also find an art museum, Coca-Cola Museum (the world-famous drink was first bottled in the South, after all) and a formal English garden.
While you’re in Monroe, experience Christmas at Kiroli Park, a drive-through wonderland decked with light displays and holiday tunes. Santa and the Grinch are known to make an appearance, too.
Christmas Under the Oaks and Holiday House
November 30-December 2
Sulphur
Live like a snow-globe figurine at Christmas Under the Oaks and Holiday House, a three-day experience in the stunning Henning Cultural Center and Brimstone Museum complex. Savor the gorgeous views of historic Pecan Street from a carriage before shopping from more than 40 artisans, singing along with carolers or floating to the top of the carnival’s Ferris wheel.
Extend your stay with a trip to Sam Houston Jones State Park. Hike along the lush, winding paths before warming up with a bonfire or cozying up in a cabin.
Natchitoches Christmas Festival
December 1-January 6
Natchitoches
Did you know Natchitoches is home to one of the nation’s longest-running holiday festivals? Considering the town looks like the inside of a Hallmark™ snow globe, it’s no wonder. $10 tickets provide a stroll along the river, where thousands of lights refract a prismatic show soundtracked by seasonal classics.
Before you enter the festival, grab a cup of hot cocoa at StoryBrew Coffee Café. The historic shop is known for flaky, mile-high cinnamon rolls and tender, buttery scones.
Learn more about Natchitoches.
Holiday of Lights
December 1-2, 8-9
Mandeville
Enjoy Louisiana's Northshore at the annual Holiday of Lights, which promises an enchanting holiday experience for visitors of all ages! From snow machines to laser light displays, you'll have a number of opportunities to partake in the holiday festivities. On December 1, enjoy the annual Holiday of Lights Parade and get a glimpse of Santa himself.
Extend your weekend fun with some local exploration. Outdoor enthusiasts will love biking, walking or blading the Tammany Trace, which connects five towns over 31 miles of scenic trails.
Christmas in the Country
December 1-3
St. Francisville
To see how the holidays are really done, experience Christmas in the Country, St. Francisville’s three-day holiday extravaganza. Catch free concerts, explore a Jane Austen-themed holiday home, shop for fresh holly wreaths and watch a dazzling Christmas parade (where, much like during Mardi Gras, festive throws descend from floats).
Delight in even more holiday fun at the Audubon State Historic Site, where you can tour decked-out homes like the Oakley House, whose formal gardens sing with West Indies-style design. Be sure to bring binoculars, as the space is perfect for birding.
Explore West Feliciana Parish.
Christmas in Roseland
December 1-23
Shreveport
Transformed by thousands of glimmering lights and larger-than-life Christmas cards, the American Rose Center is Shreveport’s winter wonderland. Throughout the season, watch fireworks, sing along with carolers, roast marshmallows and prepare for Mardi Gras season.
Experience more local beauty at 318 Art Co., a Cajun-culture-centered art gallery. Find an eclectic mix of artwork from local and regional artists perfect for checking off your Christmas list, like hand-painted wine glasses and greeting cards.
Learn more about Shreveport-Bossier.
Algiers Holiday Bonfire and Concert
December 2
New Orleans
These aren’t marshmallow-roasting, hot-cocoa-drinking bonfires. In Louisiana, these 10-foot-tall structures light the way for Papa Noel, the Cajun Santa Claus. Gather ‘round in Algiers — a New Orleans neighborhood divided by the river from the French Quarter — where you’ll find the only New Orleans holiday bonfire. Listen to the jazzy sounds of Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers, shop from local artisans and exercise your holiday cheer.
After the event, ferry to the French Quarter for holiday-themed revelry, or keep your night cozy: Catch a ride on the St. Charles Streetcar to Uptown or the Garden District, where mansions with manicured lawns boast grand holiday displays for viewing. Wind down with fluffy beignets and a mug of hot cocoa at Café Du Monde.
Christmas on Caddo Fireworks
December 2
Oil City
Take part in the communal joy of Christmas on Caddo Fireworks, an annual palooza in downtown Oil City. Watch Disney™-level pyrotechnics light the sky in shades of red and green as you listen to live music and enjoy local light-bites.
Before the show, stop by the Sci-Port Discovery Center for Sno-Port, a seasonal, snow-themed exhibition. This interactive playground includes a make-believe sock-skating rink, igloo experience, ice-fishing pond and more.
Learn more about Shreveport-Bossier.
Christmas on the River Festival Day
December 2
West Monroe
Christmas on the River Festival Day brings endless cheer to West Monroe. Sample holiday specials from local food trucks, jam to all-day live music, shop curated picks from artisans and end the night with spectacular fireworks over the river. Plus, catch the Greater Ouachita Christmas Parade just a few blocks over.
Before you call it a night, swing by Candy Cane Lane, where you can take a hayride underneath a tunnel of more than one million holiday lights. Don’t forget to crank up the volume on your favorite holiday album.
Discover Monroe-West Monroe.
Mid City Beer Garden Pop Up Market
December 3
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge’s Mid City Beer Garden offers a sweet, festive pop-up holiday market. Perfect for those who prefer intimate shopping experiences, the charming courtyard will hold a handful of expertly curated vendors. Celebrate checking off the last of your holiday gift list with a bubbly brew.
Around the corner is Baton Rouge’s lively art scene. Baton Rouge Gallery Center for Contemporary Art showcases can’t-miss photography, sculptures and stained-glass exhibitions, while the dynamic LSU Museum of Art offers regional, American and European art collections.
Visit Baton Rouge.
Ring in the Holidays
Statewide
Usher in the warmth and joy of the holidays with unique experiences only Louisiana could serve up. Visit 10 towns across the Holiday Trail of Lights, each with dazzling displays, exciting parades, live music, joyful theater performances and more. Enjoy the celebrations from November to January.
Make Plans for Louisiana This Weekend
Whether it's one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.
